- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Australia kick off their European tour against arguably the best team in the northern hemisphere as they take on France at Stade de France, Sunday 7am AEDT.
Join us on The Roar for scores, comments and live updates from Saint Denis, Paris.
The Wallabies have stumbled upon something of a renaissance in the past month.
They’re fresh from an invigorating 18-18 draw with New Zealand in Brisbane, where the they took the All Blacks juggernaut down a notch; surely something no other team could manage this side of history.
In achieving this draw and overall second place in the inaugural Championship, the Australians justified their ranking as the second best team on the planet.
The Quade Cooper saga has lost its venom, Will Genia recently recommitted to the code, and new stars are budding and blooming in Mike Harris and Michael Hooper. With Kurtley Beale reportedly running about training like a spring chicken, the Australian team is just a good place to be these days.
As Nick Phipps said in training this week “There’s a really good mood around the camp”.
“It’s a really tight team, everyone’s really close and enjoying each others’ company, we’ve got four weeks ahead of us in Europe and we’re really looking forward to it.”
And if the Wallabies beat the French in the heart and soul of their opponent’s country, Stade de France, then a clean sweep of Europe could well be on the cards.
In almost 100 years of contests between these two nations, the new world has the wood, with Australia winning 23 and France winning 16. The average historical score between these countries is 21-17, again to Australia.
While France enjoys a 60% home record against the Wallabies, curiously, at Stade de France the Aussies have the supremacy with 5 wins out of 6 tests.
Included in this string of upsets was one of Robbie Deans’ most famous victories with a 16-59 dismantling of the French in 2010.
Sekope Kepu and Kane Douglas are the changes to the starting team and join a forward pack made up of seven Waratahs. Berrick Barnes returns from injury and replaces Drew Mitchell on the bench.
The French are without their inspirational captain and last year’s IRB World Player of the Year Thierry Dusatoir. In his place second rower Pascal Pape leads the team.
When quizzed about rival captain Nathan Sharpe’s swansong tour he remarked “We expect he won’t have a good memory of his last game in Paris.”
Notable inclusions in their squad include the indelible fly half Frederic Michalak, fresh off a massive career revival with the Sharks in this year’s Super Rugby tournament, and half back Morgan Parra who’s been passed as fit after overcoming a recent injury.
Statistics don’t win you games; a fortunate thing for the French as they haven’t beaten the Wallabies in seven years.
The bookies have Les Blues as decent favourites. Look for an upset.
Join us at 7.00am Sunday on The Roar, the place to be for the live scores and where you can have your say on the go.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.